Shevchenko wins Ballon D'Or

[pigeon]

Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko is the new European Footballer of the Year, it has finally been confirmed.

Shevchenko succeeds Pavel Nedved as the Ballon D'Or winner, after beating Deco into second and Ronaldinho into third respectively.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry was down in fourth place nearly 100 points behind Shevchenko.

"When I started playing football I dreamt to become a big player and to win a prestigious award like this," beamed the Ukraine star.

"I'm really happy. I feel myself a more complete and experienced player. But the most important thing is that I have learnt about winning."

Shevchenko was full of praise for his manager Carlo Ancelotti.

"With Carlo Ancelotti I have won and I become a winner," he said.

"Our coach is different in comparison to all the others with which I worked.

"He gives me a big tranquillity, he listens to you.

"With him you can talk as a former player in addition to as a coach -  he is well prepared."

Greece's Theo Zagorakis took fifth, with Adriano in sixth and former holder Nedved in seventh.

Wayne Rooney was the highest ranking England player as he came in eighth, ahead of Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy and Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho who completed the top ten by being equal ninth.

Other notable English-based performers were Milan Baros (12), Cristiano Ronaldo (12), Didier Drogba (17) and Frank Lampard (17).

Edited December 13, 2004 by pigeon

[TMM]

Henry should've won it in my opinion. Not just because I'm an Arsenal fan, because he was the best player in the world for the past year.

Ronaldinho should've been a close second, but Henry should've won it.

Congrats to Shevchenko though.

Wait...why is Carvalho up in the top 10?

[pigeon]

I actually think Ronaldinho should have won it, but Henry certainly should have been top 3.

Carvalho deserves to be in the top ten IMO. Key player for Porto in the CL. Quality for Portugal, and now for Chelsea.

[FLiam]

Henry should have won it.

Main reason, he has been scoring 20 goals plus and assisting 15 or more every seaosn in the league for about 3 or 4 seasons. How that doesn't deserve this award I will never know. He deserves it more than anyone I think, and if he doesn't win the World Player of the Year it is a fucking crime, no other way to explain.

He may be the best player ever to not win either of those awards if he doesn't.

[pigeon]

It's based on his performances this calender year though, not over the course of 3 or 4 seasons. I think Euro 2004 may be what counted against Henry.

Edited December 13, 2004 by pigeon

[FLiam]

In that case, this year has been his best, fuck Euro 2004. Look at his peformance for his club, NO-ONE has been that good at their club for the past year, NO-ONE.

[Timmoru Suzuki]

But he hasn't had the best internationally, and its an all-round package that is needed to get the award.

I admit, he should be top 10, if not top 5............

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Henry should have won it.

Main reason, he has been scoring 20 goals plus and assisting 15 or more every seaosn in the league for about 3 or 4 seasons. How that doesn't deserve this award I will never know. He deserves it more than anyone I think, and if he doesn't win the World Player of the Year it is a fucking crime, no other way to explain.

He may be the best player ever to not win either of those awards if he doesn't.

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[pigeon]

In that case, this year has been his best, fuck Euro 2004. Look at his peformance for his club, NO-ONE has been that good at their club for the past year, NO-ONE.

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[Guest Pirate Chasin' Booty]

Liar, Ronaldinho can't even speak English.

[Malenko]

Henry should have won it.

He may be the best player ever to not win either of those awards if he doesn't.

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[G-O-D]

I thought Ronaldinho was a more deserving winner, but that's not to say that Sheva is undeserving. Ronaldinho has been superb for both club and country, whereas Ukraine didn't really excel even with Shevchenko.

[public enemy]

From what I've seen of him, Shevchenko definitly deserves it.

[Jonny D]

Although I can't really say Shevchenko didn't deserve it, if I were choosing Ronaldinho would of been first followed by Henry and then Shevchenko, with Adriano and Nedved making up the rest of the top 5.